Tuesday's announcement that Microsoft is buying Skype is obviously huge business news, but millions of consumers aren't focused on that.
Instead, many of the video and chat Web tool's 660 million users are wondering less about the economic impact of the $8.5 billion deal and more on what the purchase will mean for their user experience.
The millions who don't use Skype but have Microsoft computers, phones and video game systems will no doubt see some changes, too.
None of which is to say that the immediate reaction on the Web was all that exciting.
For all its global reach, said veteran Microsoft just doesn't get people jazzed up like, say, Apple or Google. (That despite the company's mini-resurgence on the gaming front and its well-received Bing search engine.)
There are some avenues Microsoft could take with Skype that some folks might not immediately recognize.
Based in part on comments that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made Tuesday, here are few of the leading scenarios of what the computing giant might do with Skype:
1. Integrate it with the Xbox
Roughly 10 million Microsoft users already have cameras attached to their devices. That's the number of Xbox Kinect systems sold since the motion-sensing game system was released last year.
It seems like a no-brainer that Microsoft would integrate Skype's advanced chat technologies with that, as well as with its Xbox LIVE service.
The Xbox 360 already has a chat function. But gamers have largely been unimpressed, opting for other consoles like the PlayStation for multiplayer games that require real-time communication.
Similarly, Skype already has TV-compatible webcams and software, but it's hardly been a high-profile feature.
Putting Skype on the Xbox could push both products forward.
2. Improve the Windows Phone
Let's be honest: Windows Mobile phones aren't selling like the iPhone or the growing cascade of phones running Google's Android system.
The Windows Phone 7 system really hasn't had an answer for the iPhone's FaceTime app or Google Talk's newly added video. Now it will, with the best-in-breed video and voice chat app at its disposal.
"It's pretty obvious today that not everyone is doing video, particularly from their phone," Ballmer said. "That's an opportunity where there are a lot of things that could be done."
Of course, Apple and Android products can already run Skype apps. So it will be interesting to see how that plays out. (Ballmer assured current Skype customers that those platforms will still be supported.)
"Given that Skype has been in use for more than a half-dozen years and has a growing user base, it would be difficult for Microsoft to begin eliminating Skype support for other mobile platforms," Kevin C. Tofel wrote for tech blog GigaOM.
"But future features and other value-add services could be offered exclusively or first on Windows Phone 7 devices going forward, giving consumers a 'killer app' to consider when making a smartphone purchase."
3. Show up at your office meeting
One of the reasons Microsoft was considered to be high on Skype was so Google and Cisco Systems, both rumored to be interested, wouldn't get their hands on it.
In terms of workplace communication, the latter may be more important than the former. Cisco is the first name people think of when office video conferencing and teleconferencing are mentioned.
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